Uninspired: Pretend Dating Trope
Content creators really need to stop, take some time to think, and come up with new ideas. They keep recycling the same stuff.
Why do so many of these involve Christmas?
Why do so many of these involve Christmas?
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- DirectorDonald PetrieStarsKate HudsonMatthew McConaugheyAdam GoldbergBenjamin Barry is an advertising executive and ladies' man who, to win a big campaign, bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days.
- DirectorAnne FletcherStarsSandra BullockRyan ReynoldsMary SteenburgenA pushy boss forces her young assistant to marry her in order to keep her visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada.
- DirectorGarry MarshallStarsRichard GereJulia RobertsJason AlexanderA man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love.
- DirectorDennis DuganStarsAdam SandlerJennifer AnistonBrooklyn DeckerOn a weekend trip to Hawaii, a plastic surgeon convinces his loyal assistant to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife in order to cover up a careless lie he told to his much-younger girlfriend.
- DirectorJohn WhitesellStarsEmma RobertsLuke BraceyKristin ChenowethFed up with being single on holidays, two strangers agree to be each other's platonic plus-ones all year long, only to catch real feelings along the way.
- DirectorHernán JiménezStarsNina DobrevJimmy O. YangDarren BarnetAn LA girl, unlucky in love, falls for an East Coast guy on a dating app and decides to surprise him for the holidays, only to discover that she's been catfished. This lighthearted romantic comedy chronicles her attempt to reel in love.
- DirectorGil JungerStarsMelissa Joan HartJoey LawrenceJason MacDonaldCash-strapped virtual strangers Jennifer and Vince decide to stage a fake engagement and wedding just for the presents.
- DirectorChris NelsonStarsNoah CentineoLaura MaranoOdiseas GeorgiadisTo save up for college, Brooks Rattigan creates an app where anyone can pay him to play the perfect stand-in boyfriend for any occasion.
- DirectorClare KilnerStarsDermot MulroneyDebra MessingJack DavenportSingle-girl anxiety causes Kat Ellis to hire a male escort to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. Her plan, an attempt to dupe her ex-fiancé, who dumped her a couple years prior, proves to be her undoing.
- DirectorJohn SchultzStarsMelissa Joan HartAdrian GrenierStephen CollinsNicole and Chase used to be BFFs, then junior high happened. The high school centennial dance is coming but Nicole gets dumped. So does Chase. They stage a relationship to get at their exes. They visit each other's worlds. Love in the air?
- DirectorRobert IscoveStarsFreddie Prinze Jr.Rachael Leigh CookMatthew LillardA high school jock makes a bet that he can turn an unattractive girl into the school's prom queen.
- DirectorSteve RashStarsPatrick DempseyAmanda PetersonCourtney GainsAn outcast secretly pays the most popular girl in school one thousand dollars to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month.
- DirectorJohn BurgessStarsShane McRaeAubrey DollarDaniel J. TravantiJosh's girlfriend wants to get married. Molly's boyfriend is married. Josh and Molly fly to the wedding in Chicago together and pretend to be engaged to make their parents happy. Comedy follows...does romance?
- DirectorDavid WinningStarsJessica LowndesDaniel LissingJay HindleA holiday wedding brings no joy to the bride's cousin, who was literally left by the groom right at the altar. But she might find her true love there when she gains a fake fiancé.
- DirectorTom VaughanStarsCameron DiazAshton KutcherRob CorddryA man and a woman are compelled, for legal reasons, to live life as a couple for a limited period of time. At stake is a large amount of money.
- DirectorSusan JohnsonStarsLana CondorNoah CentineoJanel ParrishA teenage girl's secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.
- CreatorChris Van DusenStarsNicola CoughlanClaudia JessieLuke NewtonThe eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family look for love and happiness in London high society.
- DirectorElizabeth Allen RosenbaumStarsSofia CarsonNicholas GalitzineChosen JacobsIn spite of their many differences, Cassie, a struggling singer-songwriter, and Luke, a troubled Marine, agree to marry solely for military benefits, but when tragedy strikes, the line between real and pretend begins to blur.
- DirectorMichael MayerStarsMichael UriePhilemon ChambersLuke MacfarlaneDesperate to avoid his family's judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend that they're now in a relationship.
- DirectorAri SandelStarsMae WhitmanBella ThorneRobbie AmellA high school senior instigates a social pecking order revolution after finding out that she has been labeled the DUFF - Designated Ugly Fat Friend - by her prettier, more popular counterparts.
- DirectorRawson Marshall ThurberStarsJason SudeikisJennifer AnistonEmma RobertsA veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico.
- DirectorNadia TassStarsJami GertzShawn ChristianTyne DalyAn FBI agent is assigned as the protective custodian of a straight-talking cocktail waitress after she agrees to testify against her tax cheat boyfriend.
- DirectorWill GluckStarsEmma StoneAmanda BynesPenn BadgleyWhen Olive lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to one of the college boys, a girl overhears their conversation. Soon, her story spreads across the entire school like wildfire.
- DirectorMichael M. ScottStarsJoey LawrenceEmily HampshireLinda DarlowAn attractive pair agrees to be each other's supposed significant other throughout the holidays to keep their meddling families at bay.
- DirectorJon TurteltaubStarsSandra BullockBill PullmanPeter GallagherA hopelessly romantic Chicago Transit Authority ticket booth operator is mistaken for the fiancée of a comatose patient.
- DirectorJim FallStarsBonnie SomervilleShelley LongJordan BridgesAfraid to tell her family she's been dumped, Hillary hires an actor to play her fiancé during a four-day Thanksgiving weekend at her parents' house.
- DirectorGlenn Gordon CaronStarsJennifer AnistonJay MohrKevin BaconA young advertising executive's life becomes increasingly complicated when, in order to impress her boss, she pretends to be engaged to a man she has just met.
- DirectorRon UnderwoodStarsMelissa Joan HartMario LopezTimothy BottomsA struggling artist working as a waitress kidnaps one of her customers to take home to meet her parents at Christmastime.
- DirectorSheree FolksonStarsKelly MacdonaldDavid TennantAlice EveWhen the world's media descend on the remote Scottish island where a Hollywood actress is attempting to get married, a local girl is hired as a decoy bride to put the paparazzi off the scent.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsGérard DepardieuAndie MacDowellBebe NeuwirthA man wanting to stay in the US enters into a marriage of convenience, but it turns into more than that.
- DirectorAnand TuckerStarsAmy AdamsMatthew GoodeAdam ScottAnna Brady plans to travel to Dublin, Ireland to propose to her boyfriend Jeremy on February 29, leap day, because, according to Irish tradition, a man who receives a marriage proposal on a leap day must accept it.
- DirectorFrank OzStarsSteve MartinGoldie HawnDana DelanyCon artist Gwen moves into Newton's empty home without his knowledge and begins setting up house, posing as his new wife.
- DirectorJessie NelsonStarsSteve MartinDiane KeatonJohn GoodmanThe intertwined stories of four generations of Coopers unfold right before the annual family reunion on Christmas Eve. Can they survive the most beautiful time of the year?
- DirectorDavid WinningStarsJaime KingLuke MacfarlaneChristie LaingTwo self-confessed 'Christmasphobes' sign a contract which will mutually benefit them over the holiday season.
- DirectorGarry MarshallStarsGoldie HawnKurt RussellEdward HerrmannA cruel but beautiful heiress mocks and cheats a hired carpenter. When she gets amnesia after an accident, he decides to introduce her to regular life by convincing her that they're husband and wife.
- DirectorRob GreenbergStarsEugenio DerbezAnna FarisEva LongoriaAfter a spoiled, wealthy yacht owner is thrown overboard and loses his memory, a mistreated employee convinces him that he is her working-class husband.
- DirectorHarry WinerStarsKimberly Williams-PaisleyPatrick DempseyBrad RoweInstead of really living her life since losing her mother at age 7, Seattle lawyer Amy Myer sticks to a ridiculously-detailed timeline her mother drew as a guideline in all walks of life, even love in search of marriage with 'number 7'.
- DirectorTom DeyStarsMatthew McConaugheySarah Jessica ParkerKathy BatesA thirty-something is still living with his parents until they hire an interventionist to help him graduate out of the house. That's when the fun begins.
- DirectorWilliam A. SeiterStarsRosalind RussellBrian AherneVirginia BruceCEO Stephen marries his secretary Kendal in name only, an arrangement made to protect his finances from an attempt at a hostile business takeover. Once the threat is neutralized, he asks Kendal for a divorce but she refuses.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsHumphrey BogartAudrey HepburnWilliam HoldenA playboy becomes interested in the daughter of his family's chauffeur, but it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for her.
- DirectorAlfonso ArauStarsKeanu ReevesAitana Sánchez-GijónAnthony QuinnPaul Sutton, a young married soldier, befriends a pregnant lady who is petrified her father will disown her, and agrees to pose as her boyfriend. As time passes, they start growing fond of each other.
- DirectorTimothy BondStarsJonathan CakeJoely CollinsKevin OttoTo save the family wine estate, Regan Montana asks Claire, a dowdy paralegal, to lure his brother Denny away from his manipulative girlfriend.
- DirectorJames KeachStarsJane SeymourJames BrolinDavid KayeA story about woman who adopted her nephew and a man who found out he has a son. The only way the boy can have both parents is if they do the unthinkable... get married.
- DirectorRichard BenjaminStarsShirley MacLaineRicki LakeBrendan FraserConnie, unwed and pregnant, is heading to Boston by train when she meets wealthy newlyweds Hugh and Patricia. The train crashes, and when Connie comes to in the hospital, she is mistaken for Patricia, who died in the crash with Hugh.
- DirectorBert KishStarsKatrina LawJordan BelfiPatricia RichardsonGreta Kaine (Katrina Law) is always in search of juicy gossip. As a gossip-tabloid reporter in Los Angeles, it's her job to expose the rich and famous. So when word gets out that the late Senator Tannenhill's sons might be proposing marriage at their family's Big Bear compound during Christmas, Greta and her chief rival Wes (Tom Lenk) are challenged by their old-school editor to get the scoop. There's incentive to be the first, too: the editorship of the magazine's new online incarnation. Greta's assistant tells her that Wes has a head start to snowy Big Bear, so she dashes to the mountain resort. When she mistakenly ends up as a guest of the family, she's in the middle of what could be her best story yet. However, she discovers that the family, including matriarch Maggie Tannenhill (Patricia Richardson) and caretaker Peters (Robert Curtis Brown) are more down-to-earth than she had assumed. Increasingly guilt-ridden about her game of subterfuge, Greta must decide how far she will go for a story.
- DirectorBrent ShieldsStarsKeri RussellSkeet UlrichMare WinninghamPregnant out of wedlock, an educated young woman is pressured by her father into an arranged marriage with a lonely farmer in this drama set during WWII.
- DirectorLetia CloustonStarsLexi GiovagnoliBrant DaughertyLexi AtkinsA waitress/actress in Los Angeles is back home for a friend's bridal shower. She lets her friends believe, that she's dating the hot actor Chas. Returning to Los Angeles, she meets Chas, who has his own reasons for keeping the rumor alive.
- DirectorMae Czarina CruzStarsIrma AdlawanKim ChiuMatt EvansZach (Xian Lim) is a playboy who breaks up with all of his girlfriends. Chloe (Jessy Mendiola), his current girlfriend, catches him dancing with another girl. Tori (Kim Chiu) is Chloe's overprotective best friend. Chloe asks Tori to do her a favor: she wants her to date Zach. Will Tori and Zach fall in love with each other?
- DirectorJean-Pierre AmérisStarsBenoît PoelvoordeVirginie EfiraFrançois MorelDepressed by his loneliness, Paul-André, a shy and wealthy man, offers to rent the family of a good-natured woman with two kids in exchange for settling her debts.
- DirectorRobert IscoveStarsHilarie Burton MorganPaul CampbellMalcolm StewartThe story of a young businesswoman who tries to convince her uptight parents to accept her current boyfriend and instead finds herself falling for an old high school flame.
- DirectorDavid WinningStarsVanessa MarcilDavid SutcliffeKaren HolnessA young celebrity marriage counselor discovers herself left at the altar of her own highly-publicized wedding. To save face, she accepts an offer from her contractor, who secretly has a crush on her, to step in as groom and marry her.
- DirectorRon OliverStarsHeather Elizabeth MorrisJonathan BennettOscar NuñezA young lady who has grown up with her father being a radio DJ becomes one herself, hosts a 'Romantically Speaking' show, and falls in love.
- DirectorDouglas BarrStarsCarly PopeBrian Austin GreenSara RueMel's plan is to make Drew fall in love with her and then she will dump him to make him feel the same torment that he put through, but the plan goes awry when she actually does fall in love with him.
- DirectorRod DanielStarsJohn StamosJoshua MalinaShemar MooreThree broke men try to become rich by finding rich women.
- DirectorLetia CloustonStarsJes MacallanCoby Ryan McLaughlinApril BowlbyA high-level executive must find herself a husband before Christmas in order to inherit a fortune.
- DirectorRoger MelvinStarsTamara BassChace BeckDawn HalfkennyTo appease her family during the holidays, a single woman pretends to be engaged to her employee.
- DirectorAlexander HallStarsLoretta YoungRay MillandReginald GardinerA best-selling author of women's issues and a medical academic find it is to their mutual advantage to falsely claim that they are married.
- DirectorKevin ConnorStarsSarah LancasterKip PardueBrandon QuinnA struggling writer is forced to fake a relationship to save her career, while overlooking the love of a longtime friend.
- DirectorDavid DeCoteauStarsVivica A. FoxRicco RossEric RobertsTwo co-workers agree to a loveless marriage of convenience, but as they become acquainted, an unrealized chemistry grows between them.
- DirectorTed KotcheffStarsRoma DowneyEric McCormackShawn ThompsonKathleen's a hard-working single mother, who's saving to buy a house for herself and her daughter, Zoe. Sam's a businessman who has to pretend he has a family in order to close a deal with the mysterious Javier Del Campo. Sam owns the company that Kathleen works for, and as her boss, manages to convince her to help him out. But Del Campo is more than he seems, and it just might be Zoe who's making the real deal to get a new home for herself, her mother, and Sam.
- DirectorBrian HerzlingerStarsAlix AngelisThomas BeaudoinJesse HutchAfter Eric and Chloe's breaking up, something happens in their lives.
- DirectorMel DamskiStarsLacey ChabertCarlo MarksJesse MossAfter Fiona gets dumped, she escapes to her family's Vermont Inn for a few days to evaluate her life. When her ex Nate shows up with a new girlfriend, Fiona devises a plan to win him back: pretend head chef Derek is her new boyfriend.
- DirectorEdward C. LilleyStarsGloria JeanRay MaloneGeorge DolenzA poor country girl from Vermont travels to New York City to attend a theatrical school.
- DirectorRichard Curson SmithStarsLydia WilsonMaggie FoxSarah RidgewayAfter losing her employment, Emily accepts a proposal that will give her a secure future. But she soon finds trapped in her new family's deception.
- DirectorAndy TennantStarsWill SmithEva MendesKevin JamesA smooth-talking man falls for a hardened columnist while helping a shy accountant woo a beautiful heiress.
- DirectorRoger KumbleStarsSarah Michelle GellarRyan PhillippeReese WitherspoonTwo vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.
- DirectorWilliam A. SeiterStarsGinger RogersNorman FosterZasu PittsA vice-free radio singer wants to experience the dark side of life, so a press agent convinces her sponsor to choose a "professional sweetheart" from her fans.
- DirectorGregory La CavaStarsGinger RogersWalter ConnollyVerree TeasdaleFeeling unwanted by his wife and children, a wealthy industrialist hires an unemployed young woman to pose as his mistress.
- DirectorHenry KosterStarsDeanna DurbinCharles LaughtonRobert CummingsIn order to please his dying father, a man convinces a hat-check girl to impersonate his fiancée, but complications arise when the father's health suddenly improves.
- DirectorBruce ManningJean RenoirStarsDeanna DurbinEdmond O'BrienBarry FitzgeraldA missionary tries to outwit the U.S. government and smuggle Chinese orphans into the country.
- DirectorAndy CadiffStarsMandy MooreMatthew GoodeMark HarmonAnna wants to be like other girls her age (18): date a guy etc. but she's the US president's daughter and always guarded. In Prague he breaks his promise of only 2 agents following her to a concert and she runs away with Ben to see Europe.
- DirectorIan SamuelsStarsShannon PurserKristine FrosethRJ CylerA case of mistaken identity results in unexpected romance when the most popular girl and the biggest loser in high school must unite to win over their crushes.
- DirectorMax McGuireStarsNatalie HallEvan WilliamsAlison BrooksLongtime friends and local radio hosts Maggie and Jack fake it as a couple for their families and listeners in hopes of getting their show syndicated.
- DirectorMonika MitchellStarsHilarie Burton MorganRobert BuckleyDanneel AcklesA recently-single woman dreads the thought of going back to her Louisiana hometown for Christmas when she finds out that her ex-boyfriend will be there with his new girlfriend.
- DirectorAmyn KaderaliStarsJulianna GuillCorey SevierCheryl LaddWhen a winter storm hits Cleveland and grounds flights, it brings two opposite fellow pilots together.
- DirectorKevin ConnorStarsElisabeth HarnoisAdam MayfieldJonathan BennettAt a Christmastime event, Jenna shares an impromptu, unforgettable kiss with the dashing billionaire, Cooper Montgomery. Unaware of his intentions and fearful of getting hurt in another relationship, Jenna vows to resist his charms, but begins to realize his affection is real as the two spend more time together.
- CreatorCarter CovingtonDana GoodmanJulia Lea WolovStarsRita VolkKatie StevensGregg SulkinAfter numerous attempts of trying to be popular two best friends decide to come out as lesbians, which launches them to instant celebrity status. Seduced by their newfound fame, Karma and Amy decide to keep up their romantic ruse.
- DirectorOliver KienleStarsLivia RennerLisa VicariChristina HeckeTo realize their culinary and boxing dreams, the daughter of a billionaire forms a mutually beneficial alliance with the son of a struggling single mom.
- StarsRyûsei ÔnishiHiyori SakuradaShiori AkitaAfter being dumped by his girlfriend, a college student enlists a dating service to "rent" a girlfriend. It's only meant to be a temporary arrangement, but the two start to get close.
- DirectorBenoît JacquotStarsIsabelle HuppertVincent MartinezVincent LindonFashion executive Dominique's obsession for Quentin, a young bisexual hustler, fills her desire for physical love but leaves her taxed emotionally. Twists and turns in the relationship, along with the man's violent and abusive nature, force Dominique to reconcile the conflicts created by her passion. In this quest, Dominique is aided [and sometimes hindered] by friends, clients, and Quentin's former and current acquaintances.
- DirectorAimee GrahamStarsOwen BeckmanGretchen LodgeSylva KelegianWhen an astrophysics student working towards his PhD loses priceless research to an auto theft, he makes a bargain with a woman at a local pawn shop in order to get it back.
- DirectorManolo CaroStarsLudwika PaletaLuis Ernesto FrancoLuis Gerardo MéndezThis comedy drama features two couples living in the same building, Lucas & Julia the catholics, Aaron & Nora the jewish and Lola the world traveler spanish. The story takes place at the arrival of a new renter the ex soccer player Felix; as soon as he's installed the neighbors gather for a dinner just to find out the problems between them; After this Lola reveals her couple problems, Julia and Aaron find themselves in love and Lucas tries to get Felix attention. The shocking sound of two gun shots sets all the neighbors in a suspicious crime scene.
- DirectorCaleb VetterStarsWesley ElderChristina GrimmieOsric ChauA young professional breakup artist reaches a crisis when the girl he's hired to target is the girl he's always wanted.
- DirectorHannaleena HauruStarsHannaleena HauruTanja HeinänenSamuel KujalaAfter losing a film job to her nemesis Kristian, Hanna teams up with her sister and counterculture friends, to create a parody romance on Instagram between herself and young actor Ekku.
- DirectorPhilippe BressonStarsIdris SultanGrace WacukaMeg OtanwaTo save their real estate agency, an ambitious businesswoman and her entitled boss must convince an investor that they're married - despite hating each other.
- CreatorShisan GongziStarsLandi LiJunfeng NiuSheng Jing Chu, a talented young Go player. Cheng Liao was misunderstood as Sheng Jing Chu girlfriend. The two of them put up a fake front but fell in love. Cheng Liao supported him and the two inspired each other.
- DirectorIfeanyi IkpoenyiStarsUzor ArukweGrace-Charis BasseyAlexx EkuboA young man attends a college reunion with a fake girlfriend in an attempt to make his ex jealous.
- DirectorAchille BriceStarsRaquel BessongNgala CynthiaAlexx EkuboAfter her mother pressures her to find a man, a young career woman persuades a work colleague to pose as her boyfriend for a family event.
- DirectorDesmond ElliotStarsDavid Uzoma AboyShaffy BelloKeppy Ekpenyong-BasseyDetermined not to be outshone by her younger sister's engagement, a woman hires a man to pose as her fiance during a family vacation.
- DirectorJohn NjamahStarsLilian AfegbaiMbong AmataChibuike AnyanwuA romantically inexperienced career focused young woman is forced into accosting her handsome neighbour with the cunning plot to act the part of her boyfriend when her parents come to town, with unexpected consequences.
- DirectorMuyiwa AlukoStarsPaul AdamsSeun AkindeleEgo NwosuDesperation causes a man to arrange a fake marriage in order to access the inheritance left to him by his late father.
- DirectorBlessing Oke AkambeStarsTersy AkpataUche BenMofe DuncanAfter being challenged by her friends because of her arrogant views about men and relationships, a young lady is tasked with finding a man who will pretend to be her boyfriend to prove a point.
- DirectorKabat Esosa EgbonStarsFrankincense Eche-BenJennifer ElioguChelsea EzeAn avid baker who aspires to open up her own bakery is offered a chance to make money by playing girlfriend to her friend's boss whose parents are coming into town for the weekend.
- CreatorJonathan AbrahamsStarsJosh HendersonChristine EvangelistaLexa DoigTV actress Megan Morrison is offered a $10 million marriage contract with Hollywood's biggest star.
- StarsHande ErçelKerem BürsinEvrim DoganDue to circumstances, Serkan and Eda will have to pretend to be engaged. Comedy begins. And romance?
- DirectorCatalina Aguilar MastrettaStarsKarla SouzaJosé María YazpikBen O'TooleA single, successful career woman asks her co-worker to pose as her boyfriend at a family wedding back home in Mexico. Her situation gets complicated when her ex shows up at the ceremony.
- DirectorMark A. ReyesStarsRichard GutierrezMarian RiveraJC De VeraAfter an awkward yet memorable encounter at a stag party, Evo (Richard Gutierrez) and Grace (Marian Rivera) thought they would never see each other again. Little did they know that Grace is actually the girlfriend of Evo's best friend Mark ('JC de Vera'). Ever the arrogant player, Evo takes advantage of what happened at the party to make Grace agree to his demands and forces her to pretend to be his girlfriend to make his ex Akiko (Ehra Madrigal) jealous. Will it work too well?
- DirectorLetia CloustonStarsChelsea KaneDrew SeeleyChad ConnellA relationship expert is tasked with planning a Christmas gala in the hopes of landing her own TV show.